Picture-frame album



Aug. 25, 1953 M., sPERTUs' 5 3 PICTURE-FRAME ALBUM Filed Aug. 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jam 6e ea "22 Aug. 25, 1953 M. SPERTUS 2,649,799

PICTURE-FRAME ALBUM Filed Aug. 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pa'tented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PICTURE-FRAME ALBUM Maurice Spertus, Highland Park, 111.

Application August 19, 1950, Serial No. 180,461 6 Claims. (01; 40-152) ,to be stored separately in albums and the like.

Consequently it was necessary to afford additioned storage space for the album; albums were often lost or mislaid and pictures and photographs were sometimes cracked, torn or injured.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a unitary picture frame and album which will overcome the disadvantages set forth above.

Another important object is to afford a picture frame having a compartment for storing photographs or photograph albums.

A further object is to provide a picture-frame which does not look unlike the usual such frame with a supporting device such as an easel but which contains a hidden compartment and album.

Still another object to to provide a pictureframe album having means for storing a plurality of photographs therein. A related object is to so construct the picture-frame album that the displayed photograph may readily be removed and simultaneously another stored photograph exposed to view. Still another object relating thereto is to construct a picture-frame album in a manner which will'permit replacement of the displayed or exposed photograph without necessitating even partial dismantling of the frame.

Still a further object isTto provide a picture album with a picture-frame for displaying pictures and photographs. An object relating thereto is to utilize said picture-frame and displayed photograph as means for identifying the general subject matter of the contents of the album.

.Yet another object is to afford a combination picture-frame and album which embodies all the desirable characteristics of both devices.

Yet a further object is to provide a pictureframe album capable of storing a plurality of pictures in consecutive displaying position; the device having means-for removing or inserting the pictures without necessitating the opening or dismantling of the frame And still another object is to providea pictureframe album of simple, inexpensive construction yet most effective and attractive.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particu1arly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved picture-frame album in operativ position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view as observed from a somewhat different angle;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view with the frame opened to reveal the inner compartment and album therein;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View similar to that of Fig. 3 but with the album also opened and illustrating the manner in which photographs may be inserted therein and removed therefrom;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 55 in Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction indicated Fig. dis a sectional view showing in elevation another embodiment of my invention; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the same embodiment.

'Reference numeral It indicates generally a picture frame album which may be supported in a vertically inclined position as by an easel i2.

I-Ience the picture frame album does not look unlikean ordinary easel supported picture frame. However, upon closer examination, it will be noted that the album comprises two sections; a front section 14: and a rear section It pivotally connected along one side as by hinges t8, and provided onthe other side with a locking device such as 20.

- The front section [4 serves as the picture displaying member and may comprise a channel shaped frame such as 22, which may be formed of any suitable material such as metal, wood, plastic, chemically treated pulp products and the like. The front of this frame 22 may be formed with an inwardly cambered flange such as 24 behind which may be positioned a sheet of transparent material such as a pane of glass 26. To the rear face of the front segment 28 of the channel 22 may be affixed a molding such as 35 which in cross-section may be Z-shaped thus affording a flange portion 32 which is spaced from the front segment 28 of the channel as shown in Fig. of the drawings.

The channel 22 is formed with side segments such as 34 and rear segment 36 formed integrally at right angles to the plane of the side segment 34. A sheet of backing material such a cardboard 38 is positioned directly in front of the rear channel segment 36 and behind the molding flange 32. The photograph or picture to be displayed such as 48 may then be inserted directly behind the glass pane 25 and with its marginal edges in front of the molding flange 32. Central spacers such as 42 and 44 may be positioned between the photograph 4i} and the backer 38 to retain the'same in a flat unbent condition.

The rear section It may likewise be formed from a channel shaped frame such as 48 and in cross-section may comprise a rear segment 48 which, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings is disposed in a horizontal plane, a side section at integrally formed at right angles to the rear segment :13 and a front segment 52 which projects inwardly in' a plane parallel to that of the 1 rear segment 48 so that a compartment 54 is defined by said segments. Within said compartment may be stored a picture album such as 56 which may in turn comprise a pair of covers such as 58 and 60 with a plurality of picture storage compartments such as 62 all bound together in book form as by ring binders 64. Thi album 56 may be positioned and retained within the compartment '54 in a manner which will be revealed as the description proceeds.

The rear of the compartment 54 maybe closed as by a backer 66 which may comprise a sheet of cardboard or the like positioned with its marginal edges afiixed to the front of the rear segment 48 of the channel 46 as by glueing'or the like. Affixed to the front of the hacker 66 may be a member 63 in a manner to afford a pocket such as iii. A longitudinal slit such as I2 aifords an entrance to the pocket it so that the rear cover 53 of the album 56 may be inserted therein; thereby positioning and securing the album within the compartment 54. b

An easel I2 of the usual and ordinary construction may be affixed to the rear of the backer 65 as by glueing or in any other suitable manner.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the picture frame album may readily be opened to reveal the compartment 54 and the album 56 contained therein. To lock the sections I4 and- 4 together. This pin may be inwardly tapered as shown in Fig. 5 so that it will not readily slip out of the tongue opening I8.

As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the album 56 provides means for storing additional photographs such as 82 which may be inserted within the picture storage compartments 62. These compartments may be provided between sheets of transparent plastic and the like so that the pictures may readily be viewed. When desired the photograph such as '82 may be removed from the compartment 62 and substituted for the photograph 48 displayed in the picture frame section. I Figs. 6 and '7 illustrate a modification of the original embodiment in which a plurality of photographs may be stored in consecutive picture displaying positions, one behind the other; and the exhibited photograph may readily be replaced by other photographs without necessitating the opening of the pictureframe album or even the partial dismantling of the picture frame.

In this modification the album and picture frame may be unitarily formed. Hence a closed back housing is afforded comprising in cross-section a unitarily formed back member 99, side, top and bottom walls 92 and inwardly flanged front segments such as 94. The front segments 94 have their ends cambered to afford the inclined segments $6. The ends of such segments 96 are then bent to lie in a vertical plane as shown at A large opening indicated generally by reference numeral I89 is'framed by the flanges 98. Affixed to the front segments 94 i a molding I02 completely encircling the opening I06. This molding may be inwardly cambered as at I04 but terininates'in spaced relationship with the flange -53. Disposed within the opening I00 may be a transparent member such as a pane of glass i106 positioned with its marginal edges securely retained between the molding H12 and the flange 98.

Positioned directly behind the flange 93 are a plurality of pictures or photographs such as IE8 with the images facing the glass member I lit. A backing member such as I Ii! is positioned directly behind the stack of photographs I08 and may be affixed to the front portion II2 of a leaf spring H4. This leaf spring may be positioned, and allowed to expand, between the back member es and the-photographs I86, thereby retaining the photographs in picture-displaying posiion.

A slot I I6 is provided in the top wall 92 aligned with the flange 98 so that a photograph such as H38 maybe inserted in the slot 1 I6 and pushed down, in the direction indicated .by the arrow, in front of'th'e'other photographsso that the specific picture may be displayed directly behind the glass member I as. Similarly a slot H8 is provided in the bottom wall 92 and spaced from the front of the frame so that the rear photograph we may readily beremoved from the album by moving the same downwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow. As the picture is removed, the leaf spring I I4 expands to maingain the other photographs in the proper posiion.

To enable the user to readily remove the photographs through'the bottom slot H8, an opening I2!) is formed at the bottom of the back member 96 communicating directly with the slot H8 asshownin Figs. 7 and 8 of'the drawings. A similar opening I22yis formed at the bottom of the backing I It an'disaligned with'the opening E20. Thus to remove a photograph I 08 from the rear of the picture stack, all that need be done is for the operator to insert his thumb into the slots I and I22 until the rear photograph M38 is frictionally engaged. The photograph is then pushed downwardly until the bottom portion protrudes through the slot H8 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The operator may then grasp this protruding portion and pull the photograph out of the album.

Completing the picture-frame album is a supporting device such as an easel I24.

It will thus be readily perceived that I have provided a combination picture frame and album which may be constructed in various types and styles to afford means for displaying a photograph and further means for storing photographs in the same device. I have further provided a combination picture frame and album in which photographs may be replaced Without necessitating the opening of the album or even the partial dismantling of the frame. The advantages of this construction are too numerous to be individually set forth but it should be obvious that this device fulfills a long felt need.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and mlany of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing Without further description, and it should also be manifest that while preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described for illustrative purpose, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the character described, a picture frame adapted to display a photograph therein, another closed-back frame affording a compartment therein, both of said frames pivotally connected along one side, a locking device affixed to the opposite side, the rear wall of said compartment formed with a pocket therein and an album adapted to being positioned within said compartment with one cover positioned within said pocket.

2. A picture frame album of conventional appearance comprising a picture frame housing, said housing divided into two sections connected and hinged along one side, one section comprising a picture frame having a picture-displaying area, a molding frame encircling the marginal edges of said picture-displaying area, a glass pane positioned within said area and with the marginal edges thereof clamped between the frame and said molding, the other section comprising a picture album storage housing defined by integrally formed side walls and a back wall,

6 said back wall having a slot formed therein and a picture album having covers positioned in said second section, one of said covers positioned within said slot.

3. In a picture frame album comprising a picture frame housing, said housing comprising a plurality of sections pivotally connected along one side, at least one section including a picture frame having a picture-displaying area, a molding frame encircling the marginal edges of said picture-displaying area, a glass pane positioned between said area and with the marginal edges thereof clamped between the frame and said molding, at least one other section comprising a picture album storage housing including a back wall, said back wall having a slot whereby a cover of a picture album may be inserted therein.

4. A picture frame album comprising a picture frame housing, said housing comprising a plurality of sections pivotally connected along one side, at least one of said outer sections containing a picture frame, and at least one of the other sections comprising a picture album storage housing having a back wall, said back wall having a slot whereby a cover of a picture album may be inserted therein.

5. In a device of the character described, a picture frame adapted to display a photograph therein, another closed-back frame defining a compartment therein, both of said frames pivotally connected along one side, the rear wall of said closed-back frame formed with a pocket therein and an album adapted to being positioned within said compartment with one cover positioned within said pocket.

6. In a device of the character described, a picture frame album having a front cover, said front cover including a picture frame for displaying a photograph, a closed-back housing defining a compartment therein, said front cover and closed-back housing pivotally connected along one side, and the rear wall of said housing formed with a pocket whereby a cover of a picture album may be inserted therein.

MAURICE SPERTUS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Aug. 25, 1931 Number Number 

